We are the United Steelworkers, North America’s largest industrial union. We’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. We proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is.
Multiple media outlets announced last night that Essentia Health was placing 500 employees who are not involved in direct patient care on a special administrative leave. We have not been given a list of job titles and positions that Essentia has included into that number, but we have been informed by a few of our members that their department supervisors were placed on leave yesterday. Ultimately, the union was extremely surprised that the company made this move last night because the union and the company are still negotiating the specific details of what a special administrative leave would entail. So far we can confirm that Essentia has proposed to cover their share of the health benefits of anyone put on this Special Administrative Leave for through the month of April.
We have been left with many unanswered questions that we hope to get resolved as soon as possible.
We will share any information related to this matter with the membership when it becomes available. Some folks want to know if they can volunteer for this Special Administrative Leave, and if you do, we are recommending that you notify your supervisor via email that you are interested in this possible option.
As COVID-19 continues to sweep our nation, new questions are being asked in regards to the actions in place to ensure we have the safest work place possible.
In response to this unprecedented pandemic, we have reached out to our Congressman as well as the Company to express our position on the current situation in our Plant.
We have asked that any time management receives a report of a positive case on someone who has been in our facility, the Company is to IMMEDIATELY notify us (in accordance with HIPPA laws) so we may discuss the plan to sterilize any exposed areas and take necessary actions to protect those in the immediate work area.
We have taken the position that any time management directs an Employee to go home or self-quarantine, the Company should be responsible to pay the Employee all reasonable lost-time. If the Employee does test positive for the virus, the compensation should be converted to S&A and the seven-day waiting period should be waived. If the Employee tests negative, they should be allowed to return to work with no loss in earnings.
We have asked the Company that Employees who fall into the high-risk category and wish to self-quarantine, be granted FMLA or other appropriate leave.
Furthermore, the devastation of COVID-19 has altered our lives and our industry. Steel orders are decreasing and some delivery dates are being pushed back or cancelled. In response to this, the Company has informed us of their intention to change or modify schedules based on business and production needs. They also will be closely monitoring and restricting overtime, where necessary, in an effort to further reduce their operating costs. We are not in agreement with these decisions. We contend, the Company’s most valuable asset is the people. Adding additional crews and work days in a challenging climate will only add further hazards to our jobs. We will continue to encourage the Company to do what is best for the people during this global crisis.
In the meantime, please continue to take all necessary precautions to protect your personal health by practicing proper handwashing and social distancing. Collectively, we must be diligent in preserving what is truly important, each other.
In Solidarity, Pete Trinidad Sr. USW Local 6787 President
The 2020 Census is underway. So, check your mailbox now for information on how to participate in this important census count. When you fill out the census form, you help create jobs, provide housing, prepare for emergencies (like the coronavirus), and build schools, roads and health care facilities. Virginia receives $18 billion in federal funds based on census information. Complete your census form online, by phone or by mail. For more information visit www.2020census.gov #8888counts
Three years ago during Women’s History Month (March 2017), the members of Local 8888 launched a successful petition drive to have the City of Hampton name a street or public facility for Mary Jackson, the first African American female engineer at Langley Laboratory, who later joined forces with Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughn to help put the first American astronaut into space in 1962.
Today, the final design work on the new Mary Jackson Neighborhood Center is complete and bidding on construction of the center will begin soon. It will replace the original Olde Hampton Neighborhood Center. The new center named for Ms. Jackson will feature a full-size gymnasium, a kitchen, meeting rooms, open spaces, and parking. A well-attended neighborhood meeting was held and neighborhood stakeholders gave their approval of the building design.
The late Mary Winston Jackson, who was born and lived in Hampton, broke many barriers during her career as an aerospace engineer. She was one of the three women portrayed as trailblazers (along with Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan) in the 2016 hit movie “Hidden Figures.” She became a role model for other women in the male-dominated space industry, for young girls and college students, especially girls who pursued careers in mathematics, science and engineering. Local 8888 presented its Trailblazer Award to her family in 2017. Her daughter, Carolyn, is married to Raymond Lewis, a trustee of Local 8888.
In response to federal guidelines to halt the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus, Local 8888 has modified the hours of operation at the union hall, beginning Monday, March 23, 2020. In an effort to continue to serve our members in the safest possible manner, Local 8888 officers, staff and reps will mostly work remotely and practice social distancing.
The Local 8888 office schedule through mid-April follows:
President Charles Spivey Mondays and Wednesdays
Grievance Area Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays
(Call 757-247-5291, ext. 116)
Worker’s Compensation Committee April 2nd & 16th
Pension & insurance Committee April 2nd & 16th
Dental Committee April 2nd & 16th
Civil Rights Committee April 3rd & 17th
*Hours for all committees – 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
For General Information, Call (757) 247-5291 ext.115
At a time when patience is thinner than a potato chip and bad news shows up like an unwelcome guest, the shipyard, the Local 8888 office and the Newport News area got blindsided by a power outage yesterday. Eventually, power was restored, but the disruption added another layer of stress to an already stressful situation.
At a time when patience is thinner than a potato chip and bad news shows up like an unwelcome guest, the shipyard, the Local 8888 office and the Newport News area got blindsided by a power outage yesterday. Eventually, power was restored, but the disruption added another layer of stress to an already stressful situation.
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Now, we can share with you a few important announcements made by the company earlier this week as part of its response to the first two cases of the coronavirus surfacing in the shipyard.
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Now, we can share with you a few important announcements made by the company as part of its response to the first two cases of the coronavirus surfacing in the shipyard.
*Expedited Retirement – *NNS is offering employees planning to retire in April and May the option to leave NOW and pay out.
*Expedited Retirement – *NNS is offering employees planning to retire in April and May the option to leave NOW and pay out.
